In Sternenberg, the clocks tick a little slower. Just under 400 inhabitants live in this municipality, where there is a church, a ski liftTarget not accessible and two inns: the “Sunnebad” and the “Sternen”. The latter has held tavern rights since 1805.

In December 2016, the historic building was burnt to the ground. Following an extensive renovation that stayed true to the original, the traditional restaurant with a new look has been welcoming guests again since May 2020.

Despite its tranquillity, the cosy village is still well known far beyond its municipal boundaries: almost 20 years ago, the film comedy “Sternenberg”, starring Mathias Gnädinger (1941–2015), was filmed here, including in the “Sternen” rooms. A little earlier, in 1974, the Russian novelist, Nobel laureate and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1918–2008) lived in the village for a summer to escape the furore after being expelled from Russia.

Sternenberg is still popular and well-known today because of its secluded location, its view over twelve densely wooded valleys and ravines and the countless hiking opportunities.

Travelling there

The small Postbus on route 809 will transport you from Bauma to the village of Sternenberg. The view over the church in Sternenberg and the journey through the picturesque landscape are particularly impressive.

If you’re planning a hiking trip to the highest municipality in the canton, you’ll have to scale the heights. On the route from Bauma via Sternenberg to Saland, for example, there are 288 metres of climb and 321 metres of descent. The 13-kilometre route can be completed in around four hours. It passes through thick forest, wild ravines and waterfalls. Along the way, you pass the legendary Hagheerenloch, a cave about 30 metres deep. You’ll need to take torch in your bag and good footwear for exploration – legend has it that a treasure of the wicked robber barons is still buried here!

Other hiking trails lead from the Sternenberg church to the Hörnli in just under one and a half hours or to the Schnebelhorn in three and a half hours. Shorter walks (circular trails) last between 45 minutes and one hour.